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The Supreme Court has stayed the Madras High Court’s order that imposed a blanket ban on the slaughter of cows and calves across Tamil Nadu, including during Bakrid and on any other day. A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed the interim order while hearing a Special Leave Petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the High Court’s ruling.
The State argued that the High Court’s order conflicted with the Tamil Nadu Animal Preservation Act, 1958, which permits the slaughter of cows above 10 years of age that are certified as unfit for work or breeding. It also pointed out that existing laws, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and related rules, regulate animal slaughter in designated slaughterhouses rather than imposing a complete ban.
The High Court had issued its order on May 27 while hearing a public interest litigation that sought to prevent cow slaughter in public places during Bakrid in Coimbatore. However, the State contended that the court exceeded the scope of the petition by extending the restriction into a state-wide prohibition, despite no such relief being requested.
The Tamil Nadu government further argued that the High Court relied on a government order that was not under challenge and overlooked statutory provisions already governing animal slaughter. It also claimed the judgment was internally inconsistent, as it acknowledged that slaughter could occur in designated facilities while simultaneously banning the slaughter of cows and calves altogether.
The Supreme Court observed that the final direction of the High Court’s order appeared to require correction and has stayed its operation pending further proceedings.
